Writings of John Quincy Adams - Vol. 7

In the communication from the Baron de Neuville, received on the 14th of April, an abstract was presented of six
proposed articles, for arranging by a convention the commercial intercourse between the United States and France.

Of these articles, the first, second and third, were adapted
to secure, by concessions on the part of the United States,
important advantages to the commerce and navigation of France. They were articles not of mutual operation, equally,
or at least reciprocally, beneficial to both parties, but of
which the whole benefit would be for France, and the whole
sacrifice or concessions on the part of the United States.

The fourth article was also exclusively for the benefit of France. It was a reduction of the discriminating duties of
the United States in favor of French vessels laden with
French productions or manufactures, generally and without
exception.

The fifth article offered a reduction, indefinite, of the discriminating duties imposed in France, upon four specific
articles, and no more, of American produce, when imported
from the United States into France in American vessels.

The sixth article proposed to settle the tonnage duties on
both sides, on principles of reciprocity.

This project, therefore, consisted of one article of reciprocal
benefit; one article of partial equivalent to the United States,
for a corresponding article of general benefit to France; and
three articles exclusively for the advantage of France, without any equivalent whatsoever.

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